UA tunes bowl game plan in practice

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas football team practiced inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Monday in its continued preparation for the 77th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl against Ohio State in New Orleans on Jan. 4, 2011.

No. 8 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2 SEC) set a new school single-season record for passing yards in 2010 with 4,061. The Razorbacks also broke school records for touchdown passes in a season (34) and single-season total offensive yards (5,871). UA heads to the Louisiana Superdome for the school’s first BCS bowl appearance, matching up against the No. 6 Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten).

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee admitted to the media that the morning drill session was an important one for UA’s planning for OSU.

"Today was the day we wanted to get close to the game plan," Coach McGee said. "We’re going to try and get a lot done this week before we head out for the holidays. Today we wanted to get into it some."

"I think it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us," Coach McGee said. "They’re really big and strong. They’re well coached. They have a lot of pride. They present some things that are different than what defenses in the SEC bring to the table."

Coach McGee has seen leadership guide the UA team this season and feels that will continue for the bowl game in New Orleans.

"This is a veteran ball club," Coach McGee said. ‘They understand what it takes to win big games now. We have tremendous leadership on this team."

The UA-OSU game will air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. For more information on Razorback football, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.